BOARD MEETING DATE: July 11, 2003
AGENDA NO. 28

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on June 26, 2003. Major items included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the July Board. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on July 25, 2003 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Vice Chair Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference, and Committee Members Fred Aguiar, William Craycraft and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta were in attendance at District headquarters. Committee Member Verdugo-Peralta arrived after Items 1 and 2 were voted upon by the Committee, but participated in voting for items 3, 4 and 5.

JULY BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Execute Contract to Co-Fund Demonstration of Fuel Cell Water Taxi in Newport Harbor - Fuel cells are a near-zero emissions technology that can be used to displace dirty power generation in a variety of mobile applications. Water taxis, used as harbor marine vessels, are one such application where fuel cells could replace diesel generators currently used to charge on-board batteries for the electric motor. The Center for Commercial Deployment of Transportation Technologies (CCDoT), Seaworthy Systems, Millennium Cell, and Duffy Boats are partnering to demonstrate a fuel cell water taxi in Newport Harbor for total project costs of $781,000. Staff recommends co-funding with these partners to extend the demonstration for two years in an amount not to exceed $101,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Aguiar), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Transfer Funds from Clean Fuels Fund to FY 2003-04 General Fund Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account - Since FY 1999-00, revenues from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program have been directed to the Clean Fuels Fund. Periodically, funds are transferred from the Clean Fuels Fund to the General Fund to support AQMD activities directly related to the Clean Fuels Program. This action is to transfer $400,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to supplement the FY 2003-04 General Fund Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account to support Clean Fuels Program activities.
   Moved (Aguiar), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval..
    
3. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration Program to Convert Ten Gasoline-Fueled, Sport Utility Vehicles to CNG-Fueled, ULEVs - As part of the overall efforts to expand the deployment of alternative fueled vehicles in the South Coast Air Basin, the AQMD has supported the demonstration and deployment of alternative fueled engines technologies for various vehicle applications. The sport utility vehicle (SUV)is one vehicle type where alternative fueled engine technology has not been widely applied. AQMD staff is proposing to demonstrate the viability of converting gasoline-fueled SUVs to run on natural gas. Evo Transportation, Inc. with funding assistance from the AQMD and buy-down incentives from General Motors will develop a highly visible, small-scale chartered limousine fleet of ten SUVs converted to run on CNG. Staff recommends AQMD’s participation in this contract, with cofunding of $100,000. Total cost of this project is estimated at $450,000.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Issue RFP to Develop and Demonstrate Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles and Five Hydrogen Fueling Stations - The high cost of fuel cell vehicles and their limited availability are restricting the widespread deployment of hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure in the commercial market. Conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles using compressed natural gas or gasoline can be successfully converted to operate using hydrogen as fuel. This action is to issue a RFP to design, engineer, convert, test, certify, demonstrate, and maintain for 60 months hydrogen ICE vehicles. In support of these hydrogen vehicles, this RFP also includes a component for five hydrogen fueling stations within the South Coast Air Basin, capable of fueling up to 10 vehicles per day with potential expansion to fueling 20 vehicles per day.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   Committee Member Craycraft asked that staff bring to the Board the operating costs of both fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen vehicles as such information becomes available.
    
5. Issue RFP for Demonstration of Low Emission, Alternative Fuel Heavy-Duty Vehicles Within South Coast Air Basin and Public Awareness Program - This RFP is to solicit and cost-share proposals to provide support for the implementation of low emission, clean fuel and heavy-duty vehicles and supporting infrastructure within the Basin. Low emission, alternative fuel heavy-duty engines produce one-half or less the NOx emissions of their diesel counterparts and a fraction of the particulates. AQMD is specifically seeking both technical and public outreach support for a public-private effort to implement and increase widespread penetration of these technologies in public, commercial and private fleets. Total cost from the AQMD’s Clean Fuels Funds will not exceed $125,000.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Wilson) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   Committee Member Craycraft asked that one of the "Ride and Drive" events be held in Orange County.

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - Rita Loof suggested staff undertake public outreach efforts to encourage alternative, cleaner-burning fuels for stationary-source diesel engines.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

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